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Nestled under steep, dramatic hills between Napier and Wairoa is Tūtira Regional Park, bordering twin lakes – Tūtira and Waikopirō. Tūtira Regional Park is an idyllic place to have a picnic or pitch a tent. Hike the walkway or see how many bird species you can count.
Tūtira Regional Park is a working rural and natural environment. Not all risks can be eliminated. Visitors are responsible for their own safety and should take care at all times.
Key known risks include:
Pack in, pack out – take all rubbish and recycling with you when you leave
The park has an important function as a land use demonstration area. Many of the trees were planted by school students, community groups, organisations, and the Regional Council staff volunteers.
It is also a recreation space and a handy base to explore Tūtira-Maungaharuru district's many adventure and recreation opportunities. From here you can explore:
Off State Highway 2, 41km north of Napier and 77 km south of Wairoa. Access is through the gates, through the DOC wildlife reserve, across the causeway between the two lakes and follow the track until the signposted gate entrance to the park. Camping entry to the right. Tūtira is on the Napier-Wairoa Heritage Trail.
Open tracks:
Tracks can be very boggy and slippery during wet months – please use caution.
Closed areas:
$15 per vehicle per night. Mobile reception is limited, please pay before arrival.
Dogs and other pets are strictly prohibited.
Tūtira Regional Park is a wildlife reserve.
We are working with the Maungaharuru Tangitū Trust, landowners and the local community to restore and protect the lake.
Find more information about theon our project page Te Waiū o Tūtira.
Tūtira can suffer from toxic algal blooms, and the lake is not suitable for swimming when blooms occur. Cercarial dermatitis, usually known as ‘swimmers itch’ or ‘duck itch', has been reported from the lake. Research indicates the risk is highest when swimming in warm shallow water, and that using sunscreen containing phenoxyethanol will help repel the organism responsible for the rash. Signs posted around the lake provide information on swimming risks.
LAWA (Land, Air, Water Aotearoa) has more water quality information for Lake Tutira.
Water quality monitoring buoy - the Regional Council and NIWA have a monitoring buoy on Lake Tutira above one of the deeper parts (42m) for a long-term study of the lake. The buoy measures dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, water temperature and turbidity.
Algal blooms - Data from the buoy also helps the Regional Council scientists investigation the causes of algal blooms which regularly impact the lake in summer. Algae is naturally present in fresh water but in warmer conditions there can be a population explosion which turns the lake water green and produces an odour. The Regional Council is working with the lakebed owner, Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust, and other organisations to find solutions to the algal bloom problem. Other brown blooms are caused by microscopic animals called dinoflagellates, which are harmless. In nearby Lake Waikopirō, the Regional Council is trialling an aerator to bubble oxygen through the water and mix the water layers to reduce algal blooms.
Hydrilla Eradication - A long term programme (Ministry of Primary Industries funded) aims to eradicate the plant pest Hydrilla from the lake by using grass carp to forage the plant. The plant is now almost gone from the lake, and native milfoils are returning.
Erosion control & forestry - An erosion control and sustainable land management programme is in place in the park,managed by the Regional Council. Many of the trees in the park have been planted by community groups, school groups and the Regional Council staff volunteers. Since 2012 a mānuka block has been planted in partnership with Comvita NZ Ltd to assess the viability of producing valuable UMF mānuka honey as a sustainable land use on steep east coast hill country.
Find out more about the history of the park in this book - A Short History of Tūtira Country Park by Garth Eyles, 2014. Hard copies of this book are available at the Regional Council or you can order here.
+64 6 835 9200
159 Dalton Street. Napier 4110
Private Bag 6006, Napier 4142
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